WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Boilermakers will open their season at the Clarion Open for the second straight year this Sunday, bringing a lineup that is once again expected to be one of the youngest in the Big Ten.
Head coach Tony Ersland wrestled 10 freshmen in duals in the 2022-23 campaign, the most of any Big Ten team, and the youth movement will continue into this year with a talented recruiting class now on board.
16 duals and five tournaments on the schedule will give the full roster opportunities to showcase their talents and contribute to the team, so let's take a look at who will be donning the old gold and black this season.
Previews: 125-157 | 165-285 (Thursday)
125
How do you even begin to preview this guy? A 2023 NCAA Runner Up and the 60th All-American in program history, redshirt-junior Matt Ramos comes into the season as the consensus preseason No. 1 at 125 pounds after an incredible finish to last year vaulted him into the national spotlight. An upset win over Iowa's Spencer Lee in the NCAA semifinals showed the world what he is capable of and now he has an opportunity to accomplish everything he has set out for himself.
Our records indicate that he is the first preseason No. 1 in program history, much less a consensus top-ranking. He is the first Boilermaker to earn a top-ranking since Chris Fleeger in March of 2003 and the highest ranked wrestler under Ersland since Devin Schroder was No. 2 in January of 2021. The Lockport, Ill., native went 35-5 last year and already sits in the top-7 for career winning percentage at Purdue (56-15, 78.9%).
Ramos will have plenty of opportunities to solidify his spot at the top. 28 of the 33 wrestlers ranked at 125 pounds by Intermat are scheduled to appear in an event with the Boilermakers this season, including nine of the top-10.
He will be backed up by a pair of true freshmen in Ashton Jackson and Cooper Rider. Jackson was a two-time Indiana state champion and was the No. 177 overall ranked recruit in 2023 according to MatScouts.
133
Ranked for the first time in his young career, redshirt-sophomore Dustin Norris enters his second season as the starter at 133 pounds for the Boilermakers and ranked at No. 28 in the country. He went 14-16 last season with six duals wins, but he did some of his best work late.
Fighting for NCAA tournament qualification at Big Tens, he picked up his highlight win of the year by pinning former All-American RayVon Foley of Michigan State. He ended up one spot shy of a berth to Tulsa but will look to build on a good start to his varsity career.
Behind Norris at 133 sits redshirt-freshman Jacob Macatangay, who impressed in open competition last season and took first at the Clarion Open in his only varsity action in his true freshman campaign.
141
There are big shoes to fill at 141 pounds, as the Boilermakers look to replace their 61st All-American and four-time NCAA qualifier Parker Filius who graduated after climbing the podium into seventh at the 2023 NCAA Championships.
Ersland has several promising options at his disposal, none more decorated than true freshman Greyson Clark who looks primed to jump straight into the lineup. The No. 29 overall recruit in the nation, Clark won a state title all four years of high school in Wisconsin and was named the state's representative for the prestigious Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award.
Redshirt-senior Michael Leveille has the most experience of the group with 37 matches under his belt. Christian White, Brac Hooper and Cole Solomey will also compete at 141 for the Boilermakers.
149
One of two high profile transfers into the program, redshirt-senior Marcos Polanco comes to Purdue from Minnesota with three years of Big Ten and NCAA Championship experience. He enters the season at No. 27 nationally at 149 and has a 26-24 career record.
Pushing him for the starting spot is a cast of experienced wrestlers. Seniors Trey Kruse and Christian Navida have a combined 57 career matches with 14 bonus point wins. Redshirt-sophomore Jaden Reynolds competed for the Boilermakers at the Big Ten Championships last season, snagging a dramatic sudden victory win over Nebraska's Dayne Morton.
157
Another weight class replacing an experienced veteran, Ersland now looks for someone to step up after four-time NCAA qualifier Kendall Coleman graduated last May. Once again, it looks as though a true freshman is set to fill the role.
Perrysburg native Joey Blaze came in as the No. 17 overall recruit on the back of a Super 32 title and three state championships. The young talent looked impressive at the Boilermaker Wrestle Offs as well, picking up two tech falls on the back of 13 takedowns.
Redshirt-freshmen Kade Law and Isaac Ruble also plan to slot in at 157 this season.
Head coach Tony Ersland wrestled 10 freshmen in duals in the 2022-23 campaign, the most of any Big Ten team, and the youth movement will continue into this year with a talented recruiting class now on board.
16 duals and five tournaments on the schedule will give the full roster opportunities to showcase their talents and contribute to the team, so let's take a look at who will be donning the old gold and black this season.
Previews: 125-157 | 165-285 (Thursday)
125
How do you even begin to preview this guy? A 2023 NCAA Runner Up and the 60th All-American in program history, redshirt-junior Matt Ramos comes into the season as the consensus preseason No. 1 at 125 pounds after an incredible finish to last year vaulted him into the national spotlight. An upset win over Iowa's Spencer Lee in the NCAA semifinals showed the world what he is capable of and now he has an opportunity to accomplish everything he has set out for himself.
Our records indicate that he is the first preseason No. 1 in program history, much less a consensus top-ranking. He is the first Boilermaker to earn a top-ranking since Chris Fleeger in March of 2003 and the highest ranked wrestler under Ersland since Devin Schroder was No. 2 in January of 2021. The Lockport, Ill., native went 35-5 last year and already sits in the top-7 for career winning percentage at Purdue (56-15, 78.9%).
Ramos will have plenty of opportunities to solidify his spot at the top. 28 of the 33 wrestlers ranked at 125 pounds by Intermat are scheduled to appear in an event with the Boilermakers this season, including nine of the top-10.
He will be backed up by a pair of true freshmen in Ashton Jackson and Cooper Rider. Jackson was a two-time Indiana state champion and was the No. 177 overall ranked recruit in 2023 according to MatScouts.
133
Ranked for the first time in his young career, redshirt-sophomore Dustin Norris enters his second season as the starter at 133 pounds for the Boilermakers and ranked at No. 28 in the country. He went 14-16 last season with six duals wins, but he did some of his best work late.
Fighting for NCAA tournament qualification at Big Tens, he picked up his highlight win of the year by pinning former All-American RayVon Foley of Michigan State. He ended up one spot shy of a berth to Tulsa but will look to build on a good start to his varsity career.
Behind Norris at 133 sits redshirt-freshman Jacob Macatangay, who impressed in open competition last season and took first at the Clarion Open in his only varsity action in his true freshman campaign.
141
There are big shoes to fill at 141 pounds, as the Boilermakers look to replace their 61st All-American and four-time NCAA qualifier Parker Filius who graduated after climbing the podium into seventh at the 2023 NCAA Championships.
Ersland has several promising options at his disposal, none more decorated than true freshman Greyson Clark who looks primed to jump straight into the lineup. The No. 29 overall recruit in the nation, Clark won a state title all four years of high school in Wisconsin and was named the state's representative for the prestigious Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award.
Redshirt-senior Michael Leveille has the most experience of the group with 37 matches under his belt. Christian White, Brac Hooper and Cole Solomey will also compete at 141 for the Boilermakers.
149
One of two high profile transfers into the program, redshirt-senior Marcos Polanco comes to Purdue from Minnesota with three years of Big Ten and NCAA Championship experience. He enters the season at No. 27 nationally at 149 and has a 26-24 career record.
Pushing him for the starting spot is a cast of experienced wrestlers. Seniors Trey Kruse and Christian Navida have a combined 57 career matches with 14 bonus point wins. Redshirt-sophomore Jaden Reynolds competed for the Boilermakers at the Big Ten Championships last season, snagging a dramatic sudden victory win over Nebraska's Dayne Morton.
157
Another weight class replacing an experienced veteran, Ersland now looks for someone to step up after four-time NCAA qualifier Kendall Coleman graduated last May. Once again, it looks as though a true freshman is set to fill the role.
Perrysburg native Joey Blaze came in as the No. 17 overall recruit on the back of a Super 32 title and three state championships. The young talent looked impressive at the Boilermaker Wrestle Offs as well, picking up two tech falls on the back of 13 takedowns.
Redshirt-freshmen Kade Law and Isaac Ruble also plan to slot in at 157 this season.